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A cruise stop in Sint Maarten led me to googling where to go. A 15 minute walk to Phillipsburg, a 30 minute $3 bus ride later, we were in Mullet Bay. The water was crystal blue, the sand soft and white. It had sprinkled a little in the morning, but it was soon gone.

We spent hours lounging in the sea while the baggage spent time lounging on our $15 loungers (2 of them) under the umbrella. (Note: someone paid $10 for the same set up, but that was because they were only staying 1 hour 45 minutes. )

The tours started coming in after 30 minutes of almost no one there. Catamaran, sailboat, water taxi, yacht… buses… but nonetheless, the water was clear, beautiful and warm. And the people we encountered (since I had to ask where we can take the bus to Mullet Bay) were quite nice on the Dutch side. We never made it to the French side.

However, 15 minutes away…(yes! We walked it!) is the famous Maho Beach. Here is what I saw under a grass shack lunch place…

There were bodies on every inch of sand. It was crowded and noisy. But if you like that, hey! This is your place.

We ate at Driftwood, that’s that grass hut shanty bar.

The wings were delicious. The iced tea was a cold Arizona tea. Couldn’t believe I drank it all! Needed the sugar, I suppose. The wings were bbq wings. They had just a tad bit of heat. It was enough for me. Thank God I didn’t order the spicy. Whew! We were sweating already from the heat. The wings made us sweat more.

We took a $4 per person ride back to the cruise ship terminal. Some didn’t want to pay the extra $2 so they got off at Front Street in Phillipsburg. They were in for a hot 20 to 30 minute walk. My darling SO was too tired. Yes!

My brother and his wife gave me a bundle of yard long beans from his garden. And, of course, that’s dinner tonight.

Cut the yard long beans or if there are no yard long beans, green beans will do as well. About the length of a finger is good. Remove the tips and the ends. Slice onions and garlic. Heat up oil in a pan on high heat. Throw in the onions and garlic and stir fry until fragrant. Then throw in the washed beans. Stir fry for about five minutes until beans are tender. Splash a dash of soy sauce and stir fry one more minute. Add a gauging pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Stir fry for another minute. Serve with rice!

Bought the Asian chive flower heads from the Asian store. And I was planning on cooking then with eggs. However, some shiitake mushrooms beckoned. And a stir fry was born.

Stir fry a bit of pork in a hot pan with oil, garlic salt and black pepper. Then add a can of sliced bamboo mushrooms. Then add sliced fresh shiitake and the chives. Stir fry until shiitake is done. Add oyster sauce and crushed cayenne peppers.

A little note. Shiitake, the fresh mushrooms, work better in stir fries whereas the dried ones work better in soups. Their consistency has changed, you see, once they are dried. Yes, you do have to soak them in water.

Not only that, but shiitake has a distinct smell to them. Earthy, sort of nutty… It’s not like the button, enoki or oyster mushrooms.

So, if you do not like the shiitake smell, substitute them for oyster mushrooms instead.

I bought some garlic chives and didn’t realize…these were growing in my yard!!!! LOL!

How is it that I have them growing is beyond me! Oh, wait. I threw a few seeds in ONE pot a few years ago. Now four pots later…

However, still not enough for a good stir fry.

Got the recipe from the internet. Then twisted it to my taste.

Shrimp, stir fried with Asian chives and oyster mushrooms. No need for garlic as the chives lend their garlicky kick right there! These are crunchy and delicious!

Heat oil in wok, throw in shrimp and stir fry until slightly pink. Throw in chives and stir fry a little, throw in oyster mushrooms, pour out four tbsp of oyster sauce, a dash of black pepper and it should be done. But the addition of sesame seed oil makes it more. And just for a bit more heat, a twisting pinch of red pepper flakes.

This was dinner last night.

Someone told me about niratama. Hmmmm and I just escaped the Asian store with some Garlic chives buds… My… Perhaps tomorrow.